8/30/12

For a while we were seeing Bob almost daily, and then we didn't see him for months. The other day Mike said that he thought he had seen old Bob out in the yard. This worried me a little given the little tyke we have running around here. I don't know if a bobcat would attack a domestic kitten, but I'd hate to find out the hard way.

This afternoon, I was in the upstairs bedroom when I looked out the window, and there he was! I apologize for the quality of these images. I didn't have time to set up a tripod (not that I would, even if I did have time). And he was a fair distance away, so it was hard not to get blur while hand-holding the camera with a long lens attached. I think you'll get the idea anyway.

So here's old Bob when I first spied him at the far end of our property. Isn't he a handsome fellow?

He was kind of wandering around our burn pile where a lot of mice, squirrels, and gophers hang out. It occurred to me that he might be on the hunt, and then I saw him crouch down and spring.

Caught it! From here it looks like a gopher.

And then he ambled off to eat it, presumably. Yum. I know when I'm hungry, a nice meal of gopher is highly desirable. Yep. That's what I'm talking about. That's what George would have said anyway.

Yes, a bobcat will catch and eat anything smaller than itself including a domestic cat. Keep an eye on them at dawn and dusk. at our last place one would go by every morning at the same time and then again in the evening making it's daily rounds along the same pathways.

Oh wow! A real live bobcat. In your back yard! That is so cool! I can understand your concern regarding Smitty but a bobcat...in your back yard.. I am so envious! Thanks for the great post. NZ is so domestic by comparison.

Awww. George is very missed. Bob is stunning, but I'm glad he kept his distance. It's not unheard of for wildcats, like Bob to kill domestic cats. Unfortunately my Dad has had it happen on his property. If they are hungry enough anything smaller than they are is fair game. I am glad you kept your precious precocious one inside.

What a great time to look out and capture him and in hunting mode, wonderful. I think George is sitting somewhere in the yard watching all of the activity and watching over his family. When I lost a few of mine, I would swear I would feel something get on the bed, but of course they weren't there.

I am sooooo jealous of your wild neighbor that comes visiting! I've only seen one bobcat once and that was way up by the Strait near the Lyre River. It was crossing the road as we came 'round a bend and didn't have a chance to grab the camera.

I always think of how George would have whipped Smitty into shape, shown him the ropes and raised him right,(not that you're not doing a good job). Bob makes me very nervous with Smitty exploring the yard, you did great with the pictures, pretty amazing.